Triumph unveils My Chopsticks bra

I was watching the news yesterday and thoroughly getting depressed because of all the bad news the anchors were relaying. Fortunately, a light, lifestyle feature followed that lifted up my spirits and also showed how wacky the Japanese can get.

It’s the My Chopsticks bra that was created by Triumph Japan. The funny looking bra actually has sports cups that look like a bowl of rice (on one cup) and a bowl of miso soup (on the other cup). To top it off, the bra has side pouches where chopsticks can be kept. Call it a concept bra, if you will. The My Chopsticks bra really brings home the message that a woman’s breast can really provide nutrition and has a wonderful packaging.

Urban camouflage shown by Japanese designer

Japan is known for being a leader in technological innovations. But it has also gained a reputation for being a center for wacky ideas and innovations. The Japanese have a knack of really thinking out of the box and devising really weird inventions that may make us laugh but at the back of our minds, it would also make us think and say “why didn’t I think of that?”

Take for example the idea of Aya Tsukioka for urban camouflage. This camo is an answer to the rising incidence of street crime in Japan. Other people might think of personal security devices like mace, tasers, personal alarms or security cameras. But leave it to Tsukioka to think of a more innovative and definitely more outlandish answer to the problem. Tsukioka, who describes herself as an experimental clothing designer, designed a skirt where, if you lift up a flap, will transform the wearer into a soda vending machine. The illusion is believable enough.

She has designed a line of different products with the same “camo” dual feature, like a purse that becomes a manhole cover and bag that can become a fire hydrant. It would be cool to imagine a whole city that has assimilated Tsukioka’s designs. I can just picture men and women suddenly disappearing and turning into benches, trees or phone booths. It would be such an interesting city to live in!

For $800, you can bring the reality of a wearable vending machine home.

Land of Louis Vuitton Lovers

Louis Vuitton Malletier à Paris (LVMH), more commonly known simply as Louis Vuitton, opened its first store in Paris on Rue Nueve des Capucines way back in 1854. More than a hundred and fifty years later it is still very much famous with its leather goods considered as a status symbol all over the world.

When the first Vuitton store opened in Japan in 1978 they expected the product to take off but never anticipated as warm a welcome as they got. In fact by the 1980s Vuitton sales in Japan alone accounted for nearly half of the ENTIRE revenue of the company. To this day Loius Vuitton is more like a cult phenomenon among Japanese females instead of just a popular but passing trend. Sales in Japan stil account for an estimated 55% of all sales. According to Akira Miura, chief editor of a fashion paper in Japan, “Almost every grown-up Japanese woman already owns at least one Louis Vuitton item.” But even then people continue on buying more Vuitton items, after all a single Vuitton trunk in your closet looks incredibly lonely.

Gray Is The New Black

Modern Japanese fashion has always been one of the most interesting things about the Japanese culture. People’s interests are always piqued when it comes to this country’s fashion sense. Yet in the first quarter of this year, it seems that a shift in colors is occurring. Casualness seems to be going out as a new color emerges.

While it used to be white and black that were considered the base fashion colors, now it is gray that is emerging. As with everything related to fashion, base colors have undergone major changes throughout the decades. They have gone from blue to brown to beige then black. What exactly is a base color anyway? It is defined as the keynote color in a person’s outfit. This means that the base color is the predominant color in a material. There could be other colors on the cloth, of course, but the base color is what sets the tone or the mood of the outfit. The base color, as you may have noticed is usually more low key than bright flashy colors. However, they have a large impact on the overall look of the person wearing the outfit, whatever style it may be.

Fashion experts in Japan state that gray as the new base color is the sign that the casual look is on its way out. They claim that gray radiates innocence and refinement. As such, what we could expect to see this year in the streets of Japan are suits and uniforms in gray.

[tags]Japan, Japanese fashion, base colors, suits, uniforms[/tags]

Spring Fashion – Skirts

With the coming of the spring comes the blooming of flower buds and blossoms all over the country. Yet this spring, there other things blooming aside from flora. Take a walk downtown and you will see a wide array of skirts on display – both on mannequins and their human counterparts. Indeed, this spring, skirts are even more in fashion in Japan than it was last year.

Japanese schoolgirls in cute little skirts have always been a point of fascination for many Westerners. Things have stepped up a notch this spring as Japanese designers come out with a host of skirts for the season. The variations are astounding and would make a woman’s heart burst with happiness. From wild colors to a wide range of styles and cuts, there is a skirt to satisfy every whim and fancy. More than that, some of the skirts out can be worn in many ways – from the traditional skirt only ensemble to skirt over leggings or skinny jeans. So take off those heavy winter clothes and go get yourself a skirt or two!
[tags]Japan, clothes, fashion, spring, skirts[/tags]

Cartoons and Beauty Products

What do these things have in common? Ask the manufacturers of the very popular brand Bihada Ichizoku and they’ll tell you everything. One of the most common sights in drugstores and beauty bars in Japan today is a skincare product that is packaged in the most extraordinary way – a pretty girl with long curly blonde hair backdropped by a scene of hot pink.

This beauty sheet mask is sold by Lovelabo, a Japanese company specializing in beauty products. What they did was unprecedented – they combined their marketing strategy with that of a popular novel and its characters. Though quite new at the time that they conceptualized this strategy, they have been proven right in their choice. To date, the sales of this line of products have skyrocketed beyond the company’s original expectations.

Indeed, having an excellent line of skincare products packaged in such an unconventional manner is a great way to catch consumers’ attention. I wonder where I can get my hands on one?
[tags]Japan, fashion, skincare, anime, novels, marketing[/tags]

Harajuku

The fashion lovers mecca of Japan, Harajuku stretches out along the Takeshita Street, or Takeshita-dori. One can get to the plethora of shops and stalls in this area by getting off at the JR Harajuku station of the Yamanote Train Line. From there, you will get inundated with all the clothes, jewelry, and all sorts of accessories that you can find.

Harajuku mainly attracts the younger crowd who fill up the place, especially during the weekend. More often than not, you will also see large flocks of tourists frequenting the place. Different areas in Harajuku stand for different things. Fashion boutiques are best found in Laforet Harajuku while the hub of young designers is Ura Harajuku. Omotesando on the other hand is the place to go for the chic and sophisticated. Whatever your taste may be, you will surely find something to suit you in this fashionable place. At the very least, it will be a feast for your eyes.
[tags]Japan, tourist spots, shopping, fashion, Harajuku[/tags]

Winter Fashion

Winter may not be the best season but in Japan, the fashionable and chic take this opportunity to show off the latest in fashion. Japanese fashion has always made headlines due to its uniqueness. This winter, however, one of the most fashionable items in a person’s wardrobe was surprisingly functional as well.

We’re talking about the down jacket. Down jackets are made of the inner layer of feathers of waterfowl, most often geese or ducks. They offer warmth and the convenience of being lightweight at the same time. Combined with the Japanese fashion sense, down jackets have taken the streets by storm.

A wide variety of styles and colors can be seen. From bright colors to the chic black, you would find them everywhere. More than this, new technologies have been applied to the making of down jackets – increasing their functionality together with the price. I wonder where how these jackets would fare as warmer weather arrives?

[tags]Japan, fashion, winter, down jackets[/tags]

Street Fashion Trends

Its pretty much a given that the Japanese are funky fashion trendsetters. They’re not afraid to show their individual styles despite its mostly non-conformist trends which can be downright strange at times. This however, is really just seen in the big cities, such as Tokyo’s streets, and nearly always involves teenagers or the young at least.

Japanese children, on the other hand, are always dressed impeccably, in neat little outfits, clean shoes and smart haircuts. And beyond the teen years, the twentysomething set and above win the well-dressed battle hands down compared with their American (or English) counterparts. In Japan you’ll prety much never see a grungy looking kid with the less-than-respectable and unkempt look of say, Britney Spears (thank goodness!).

Heres some of the favourites:

* Traditional looks mixed with new
* Hats of all kinds , also with words on them
* Knee-high platform boots
* Mini cell phone accessories
* Luxe designer labels like Vuitton, Burberry and Gucci
* Umbrellas and plastic raincoats of all colours and sizes
* Pigtails and plaits
* Small bells on the person as jewelry
* Bobby pins of all kinds on coats and jackets
* T-Shirts with English sentences which dont make any sense
* Purple or blue hair (especially on Seniors)
* Nail polish colors are black, pink and orange.
* Long socks of different hues, textures and prints or baggy white socks
* Hello Kitty
* Hair extensions
* Lollipops as accessories
* Other “cute” or “dark” accessories from films like Nightmare before Christmas for instance.

[tags]Japanese fashion, street fashion, Tokyo fashion, Japanese trends[/tags]

The Gunguro Girl Look

Moving on from kiddie fashion, I thought it would be timely to talk about “Gunguro”, one of the trendy looks of Japan’s teens sullenly roaming the streets of Tokyo. Definitely not a look conservative parents would give their blessings to, the Gunguro involves a deep “maui” tan, mile-long false eyelashes and lots, and lots of make-up. Think layers of very pale lipstick - white or lavender, bright blue eyeshadow accented with stick-on lame beads, and as much mascara as a tube will supply. Top it off with long silvery grey strands of hair, extensions mandatory.

Despite the surf-chick skin-tone and perhaps even lip tone (reminiscent of sunblock), this look is as far away from the sunny laid-back island girl, and more of a tough, “don’t mess with me dude” urban message, whose origins are believed to have stemmed from the street-smart, tough-talking female rapper of the late 80’s-90’s, coupled with 70’s California surfer chick.

Interested in recreating the unique look? Try these tips I found online if you dare:

* Pale lipstick is an absolute must.
* Lots of orange, also bright green, bright yellow, bright pink… bright anything!
* Light brown or beige, leather or suede knee-high platform boots.
* Tans are very popular, especially really dark tans. Tanning saloons are blossoming all over Tokyo thanks to Gunguro chickies.
* Pale blue or white eye shadow to emphasize their ultra tans are also absolutely essential.
* Hair has to be bleached blonde (alternatively bleached pale blue or bleached orange) and has to be worn in big wavy curls.
* Hawaiian-theme jewelry as well Hawaiian-theme shirts or backpacks are a bonus.
* Mascara is BIG. Lots of it. Lots. And more. More! More. Fake eyelashes. More mascara!
* Fake hair extensions. Silver, electric blue, electric pink.
* Stripper shoes with knee high socks.
* Plucked eyebrows
* Stick-on glittery eyeliner-stickers are huge too so are stick-on stars and sparkly flowers.
* Fake flowers in hair. Bright fake flowers in bright yellow hair.

Most importantly though: If you want to be a true Gunguro girl you have to have Gunguro girlfriends. Gunguro girls travel in packs. Recently, Gunguro males have been spotted as well and these have to be accompanied by Gunguro girls.

[tags]Japanese teens, fashion, Gunguro[/tags]